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Friday, 2 December 2016

SWAZI STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST STUDENTS

The recent passing of the 26th anniversary
of Black Wednesday when troops invaded a campus of the University of Swaziland
reminds us that little has changed in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III,
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Police, troops and security forces continue to take
the attitude of ‘attack first, ask questions later’ when dealing with student
grievances.

As recently as October 2016, police
fired gunshots at protesting students
at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology at Sidwashini. At least four students had ‘serious
injuries’, according to the Times of Swaziland, the kingdom’s only independent daily newspaper.

Students had been protesting about the poor
quality of teaching at the university and inferior facilities.

The Times
reported, ‘According to eyewitnesses, about 200 students screamed and ran
helter-skelter after police from the Operational Support Service Unit (OSSU)
fired at least six shots in attempt to disperse the protesting students who
were barred from coming within 100 metres of the university gate by the High
Court.’

In February 2016 at the University of
Swaziland Kwaluseni campus Swazi security forces attacked students
by driving
an armoured troop carrier at speed into a crowd, injuring one so badly her
back was broken.

The Times of Swaziland, the only
independent daily newspaper in the kingdom reported, ‘a Royal Swaziland Police
(RSP) Operational Services Unit (OSSU) casspir drove at high speed into a group
of about 2,000 students, who, when they realised that the vehicle was not
stopping, ran in all directions.’

Students at the university had been protesting and
boycotting classes to protest about delays in registration.

Police and security forces in Swaziland routinely
violently attack students when they engage in protest.

A report published today in UNISWA Today, a student on-line newspaper site, said, ‘Three hours
from now students were supposed to sit for their first examination paper. As
this report is written, the S-block has become a jail since students can’t
leave the residence. Anyone who is leaving his dormitory is being captured.
Police have even started raiding the dormitories, the intention is unknown.’

In a separate report UNISWA Today said a university warden at the UNISWA Luyengo Campus
allowed officers of the Swaziland state security force OSSU to raid all
dormitory rooms and to sjambock ‘all students who are found having squatted in
other’s rooms’.

Student Representative Council (SRC) Vice President
Anthony Mthembu, writing on UNISWA Today
said, ‘The operation started at 23.30hrs and ended at about 3am. He also
ordered that all SRC members be arrested as they are “ring leaders”. To ensure
that he gave them our room numbers and a master key.

‘They arrived at my room at around 01.30 and tried opening my door but couldn’t
since I had inserted my key inside and fully twisted it. They threatened to
camp outside my room and asked me where Max [Maxwell Dlamini, SRC President]
is.

‘I resisted to which they threw teargas in my room,
that I resisted too, but they tried to break in and my roommate opened. The
squabble lasted for about 45 minutes. Upon opening they clapped me and alleged
that there are petrol bombs in my room.

‘They searched all my suitcases, CPU and monitor cartons, cabinets, washing
basket and anything you can think of. They even came to an extent of mistaking
a wireless mouse for a “bomb.”’

Students were then taken to police stations for
questioning.

In a separate case in August 2012, two students were
shot in the head at close range with rubber bullets, during a dispute about
the number of scholarships awarded by the government. Reports
from the Centre for Human Rights and Development, Swaziland, said several other
students were injured by police batons and kicks.

In February 2012, police fired teargas at students
from Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) who boycotted
classes after the Swazi Government did not pay them their allowances.

In November 2011, armed
police attacked students at the recently-opened private Limkokwing
University. The Swazi Observer said
Limkokwing students reported that police ‘attacked them unprovoked as they were
not armed’.

The newspaper added, ‘During a visit to the
institution about 10 armed officers were found standing guard by the gate’. The
Observer said police fired as they
tried to disperse the students.

In January 2010, Swaziland Police reportedly
fired bullets at protesting university students, injuring two of them. They
denied it and said they ‘only’ fired teargas. Students from UNISWA had
attempted to march through the kingdom’s capital, Mbabane, to call for an
increase in their allowances.